Method of introducing liquids or mixtures thereof with solids into high pressure apparatus



HUMPHREY Nov. 22, 1932. 1,888,953

METHOD OF INTRODUCING LIQUIDS 0R MIXTURES THEREOF WITH SOLIDS INTO HIGH PRESSURE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 25, 1927 Patented Nov. 22, 1932 mrso STATES PATENT OFFICE HERBERT ALFRED HUMPHREY, OF IBILLINGHAM, STOCKTON-ON-TEES, ENGLAND, A8-

SIGNOB TO IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A.

BRITISH COMPANY HETEQD GE INTRODUCING LIQUIDS MIXTURES THEREOF WITH SGLIDS INTO HIGH PRESSURE APPARATUS Application filed August 25, 192?, 3eria1 No. 215,500, and in Great Eritain September 37, 1928.

This invention relates to a method of in; troducing materials, such as liquids or mixtures of solids with liquids, into high-pressure vessels, especially those in which pressure of 100 atmospheres or over are employed e. g. for processes of destructive hydrogenation.

According to the invention, the material is displaced from an auxiliary high-pressure reservoir into the main high-pressure vessel by means of a fluid, preferably a liquid,which is independent of and does not under the working conditions mix with the material to he treated to any substantial extent. The displacing fluid is preferably employed in a circuit, by drawing it from an auxiliary fluid vessel (which may be at low pressure) pumping it into the auxiliary reservoir and exhausting it from the latter after it has performed its function of displacing the mate- 26 rial from the reservoir into the main highpressure vessel.

lwo forms of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying diagram. Figure 1 illustrates the direct displacement of liquid or o semi-liquid material by means of anotherliquid, immiscible with the first. In Figure 2, a similar device employing a loose piston in order to prevent mixing of the displacing fluid with the material, is shown.

Referring to Figure 1, A is the main highpressure vessel, B the auxiliary reservoir and C the auxiliary fluid vessel. The working all fluid in this case is oil, ,which is stored in C.

and which can be pumped under pressure into B by means of the pum D. The reservoir B can be emptied of oil y opening the lower valve E, which allows the oil to return to C. The level of oil in O is conveniently ascertained by a gauge F which thus pgermits of to following the level in the reservoir The reservoir B being em ty and the valve E shut, the charging valve is opened and a charge of material is allowed to enter. The "valve H, which communicates with the at- 45' mosphere, may be open during this time. Valve G is then shut and valve I is opened to admit oil 'to the. space above the charge, theair being expelled through H which is shut as soon as the oil fills the vemel. Pressure is 50 then brought to bear upon the oil by operating the pump, and valve J, communicating with the main high-pressure vessel, is opened. The charge is forced slowly into A and when the-oil level reaches that of E, valves I and J are closed, and E and H are opened to allow the oil to run back into C. The cycle is then started afresh.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 2, a loose piston K is employed in the auxiliary reservoir to prevent mixing of the material to he charged into A and the oil pumped from the auxiliary fluid vessel. The auxiliary vessel is then constructed of two cylinders of different bore and the double piston K sliding therein has heads of corresponding diameter, to enable the piston to be hydraulically operated in either direction in a positive manner. The operation of charging the vessel A is as follows Assuming B to contain a charge of material, the valve G is closed and J isopened to enable the piston to force the charge into A. The piston is caused to move forward by pumping oil from C by means of the pump D to the chamber N the valves L and M being connected to the pressure and exhaust of D respectively. The large end of the piston is exposed to oil pressure and this facilitatesthe operation of the pump against the high pressure prevailing in A. When the piston has reached the end of its stroke, J-is shut,the valves L and M are changed over to connect to exhaust and-pressure respectively, and G is opened. A fresh charge of material is thus sucked in while the piston is moving back and when subsequently G is closed and J opened, the cycle is ready to start afresh.

The material introduced into A may be sub- 4 mitted in this vessel to destructive hydrogenation, i. e. to the action of hydrogen under high pressure at an elevatedtemperature.

In the appended claims I use the term semi-liquid material to mean pastes, sludges or suspensions of finely ground material in liquids such as e. g. suspensions of coa'l in oil.

I declare that what I claim is 1. Method of introducing semi-liquid materials into high pressure vessels which comprises running said semi-liquid material into an auxiliary high pressure reservoir, forcing menses into said reservoir from a liquid storage tunk,

e liquid under s pressure of at least shout,

\ 1G0 atmospheres, injecting suid semi-liquid meteriel into the high pressure'vessel, and when the auxiliary reservoir is empty of semi-liquid materiel, running thev displacing liqud heck hy e difierent path to the storage ten 2.. Method of introducing semi-liquid muteriel into high pressure vessels which cornprises running the semi-liquid materiel into an auxiliary high pressure reservoir, forcing into snid reservoir from a liquid storage tank n specificully lighter liquid, displucing snid semi -liquid materiel in e downvvurd direction into snid high pressure vessel therehy end when the euxiliury reservoir is empty oi semi-liquid nenteriul, running the displacing liquid heels to the storage 3, Method of introducing semi-liquid nieteriel into high pressure vessels, which comprises pumping the snid semi-liquid muteriul into on uuxihery high pressure reservoir, said reservoir being open to the atmosphere, closing the connection to the utmosphere and opening connection to the high pressure vessel, forcing into said reservoir from or liquid storage tank uspecificully lighter liquid, displacing said semi-liquid materiel into said high pressure vessel in e dovvnwerd direction, then when said uuxiliulry reservoir is empty oi semi-liquid materiel, closing suid connection to said high pressure vessel, and opening suid connection to atmosphere and mg said liquid hack to said storuge tank end repeating the cycle,

lln witness whereof, I hove hereunto signed rnv meme this fitth day of August, 1927.

WRBERT MEETS HUMPHREY, 

